In my 10 years’ experience, I have seen a lot of changes in the fitness world with much of it, in the last seven years or so.
I remember my as rookie PT, bodybuilding used to dominate the gym mentality. Everyone wanted to know the secret for fat loss and how to get abs like a bodybuilder.
Splitting the days between chest and tris, back and bis, legs was the norm and magazines would sell that idea of eating clean and training body parts would get you a 6 pack.
Soon after the ‘functional training’ terminology took over the gym floor, a new legion of die-hard fitness fans popped up in every well-equipped gym like a cult of brainwashed fitness fanatics, it was the beginning of the CrossFit movement.
In the beginning, most trainers would have seemed sceptical of CrossFit, as most people saw it as a mishmash of exercises, performed in poor technique at a time, which the fastest person would win. I won’t lie, I too was sceptic but overtime, you couldn’t deny the efficacy of CrossFit by watching the fittest athletes endorsing and soon enough, the popularity of CrossFit skyrocketed, transforming the way most of us exercise today.
I consider CrossFit quite advanced for 80% of the population, but if done correctly, can build an average joe into a well-rounded fitness athlete in 9-12 months. The elite CrossFit athletes train 3-4 hours a day, it’s no surprise they’re built like rigs, functional, also ripped. Has bodybuilding died out? Is eating fish and rice cakes still a thing?
Although, I am quite sure these athletes have got the physique and the conditioning most of us all desired (or the bodybuilders), there are segments the industry cannot ignore.
Optimum nutrition, supplementation, back and joint health, mobility, rehab, prehab, human movement, these are still essential learning tools, perhaps more than ever before, and the more knowledge you have around them, the more you can improve your performance, whether you’re a weekend athlete or a pro.
Whilst I believe there are plenty of amazing accounts on Instagram offering great training and exercise ideas for content, there are few people who can add the educational aspects to your training, which goes beyond a good workout.
These are my top picks to follow on Instagram:
Back health, rehab & prehab and human movement specialists:
Professor Stuart McGill @backfitpro
Dr Kathy Dooley @immaculatedissection
Luke - Improve with Luke @improvewithluke
The prehab guys @theprehabguys
Dr Andreo Spina @drandreospina
Perry Nickelston Stop chasing pain @stopchasingpain
Dr David Song - Rehab hero @rehabhero
Joe Gambino @joegambinodpt
Ido portal @portal.ido
Exercise science/ strength & condition:
Exos @team_exos
Dr Aaron Horschig - Squat university @squat_university
Functional movement systems @functionalmvmt
Paul Chek @paul.chek
Charles Poliquin - Strength sensei @strength_sensei_inc
Max Schmarzo @strong_by_science
Body by Boyle & Michael Boyle @bodybyboyle & @michael_boyle1959
Perform better @perform_better
Muscle and motion @mucleandmotion
Nutrition:
Layne Norton, PhD @biolayne
Examine @examinedotcom
Rhonda Patrick @foundmyfitness
Phil Learney @theptcoach
James Cooper @jamescooperbtx
Weightlifting:
Sonny Webster @sonnywebstergb
Ma strength @mastrength
Some of them could be added to all categories, but most I consider experts and most likely, will offer honest and insightful knowledge to your training.
These are my top picks, what do you think? Have I missed anyone? Do you know of anyone I should know? Let me know, let’s share the knowledge!